Letter from the Standing Committee
August 21, 2019
Brothers and sisters in Christ,
By now you have received news that the Rt. Rev. Steven Andrew Miller, 11th Bishop of the Diocese of Milwaukee, has announced his pending retirement.
The Standing Committee met with Bishop Miller and the Rt. Rev. Todd Ousley of the Office of Pastoral Development from the national church to talk through next steps regarding Bishop Miller’s retirement and the upcoming transition.
First and foremost, the Standing Committee would like to recognize and thank Bishop Miller for his stewardship and ministry to the diocese. Bishop Miller faithfully pastored the people and parishes of this diocese for the past 16 years and the Standing Committee congratulated him on his retirement and we hope that he and his wife Cindy have the opportunity for some much needed rest and renewal.
Secondly, the Standing Committee wanted to share with you next steps regarding this transition. The Rt. Rev. Todd Ousley outlined for the Standing Committee the general contours of the overall process ahead of us, along with a possible timeline. Our immediate next step, though, is the interviewing and selection of a consultant from a list which Bishop Ousley will provide to us. This consultant, along with Bishop Ousley, will journey with us over the coming months. We are grateful for this support.
The Standing Committee does not take this task lightly and will be entering into deep discernment about how best to do this. We intend to keep the people and churches of the diocese updated on our progress as we move forward.
Please join us in thanking Bishop Miller, and his wife Cindy and their family for all they have done for the Diocese of Milwaukee. And please pray with us and for us as we discern how best to move forward in calling the 12th Bishop of the Diocese of Milwaukee.
In service to the people and churches of this diocese,
The Standing Committee
The Rev. Scott Leannah (President), St. Thomas of Canterbury, Greendale
The Rev. Elizabeth Tester, St. Paul's, Watertown
Ms. Tammy Prather, St. Bartholomew's, Pewaukee
Dr. Mary “Jamie” Cairo, St. Matthew's, Kenosha
The Rev. Andrew Jones, St. Andrew's, Madison
The Rev. Gary Manning, Trinity, Wauwatosa
Ms. Celia Fine, St. Dunstan's, Madison
Dr. Sheryl Slocum, St. Thomas of Canterbury, Greendale